The Square, Newport's Center

The Square, Newport's Center. Architectural Integrity Binds the Space. , Pre and Post Civil War prosperity brought business, housing and industrial expansion to Newport. Between 1857 and 1876, on each corner of the Square, three-story brick buildings were constructed which stand to this day. , The Gantt Hotel , 1875 , 2 N. 2nd Street , Rebuilt by Jesse L. Gantt after an 1874 fire, this three-story hotel stands to this day. Over time, new ownership led to name changes: Central, Mingle, Newporter, Newport, and now, Senior Apartments. , Competition between the Mingle and Graham hotels in the late 1890s led both to install central steam heat, running water and electric lighting. Consequently, these hotels plus railroad service attracted many groups to Newport. One 1902 weekend convention of mechanics doubled the population of Newport! , The Miller Hotel , 1871 , 1 N. 2nd Street , Constructed by Capt. B. F. Miller, the property became the Graham Hotel in the 1890s. When the First National Bank purchased the property in 1914, it was occupied by two banks, a barber shop and a jewelry store. , The Butz Building , 1857 , 1 S. 2nd Street , John S. Demaree constructed this first large building in the town. For decades, Jesse Butz, Jr. operated a dry goods and clothing store here. Subsequent businesses have filled the first floor while apartments have occupied the 2nd and 3rd floors. , The Centennial Building , 1876 , 4 S. 2nd Street , The Centennial Building was so named because of its construction by John Fleisher and Philip Bosserman on the 100th anniversary of the Nation's independence. For decades, the third story of the facility, with its 16 foot-high ceilings, was the largest public auditorium in the community and the stage for traveling productions, local thespians, conferences and politicians. , For almost a century and a half, these corner buildings have created structural and visual balance for Newport's commercial district.